Garbage collection vehicles

ABSTRACT

A garbage transport truck apparatus having a collection container which extends longitudinally along the length of the truck and includes a rotatable garbage-collecting device having an opening for receiving garbage at its lower portion. A conveyor extends from the vehicle to define a garbage transfer-receiving container.

United States Patent 1111 3,598,262

[72] Inventor .lohll l [56] ReferencesCited 5 Gum! UNITED STATES PATENTS g f fi 1969 1,753,135 4/1930 Schuberth .1 214 507 ii d A 1,558,164 10/1925 Haney 214/522 :9" m hcmbn 2,792,952 5/1957 Elder 2l4/83.26 l l A W 1 3,147,870 9/1964 Urbanetal..... 214/302 32 21 i 3,341,039 9/1967 Cranage 214/522x G 3,365,087 1/1968 Roedeletal. 214/522 [31] P l9 14 382.9 Primary Examiner-Albert J. Makay Attorney-Allison C. Collard (54] GARBAGE COLLECTION VEHICLES 2 cmznnwhtn" ABSTRACT: A garbage transport truck apparatus having a [52] US. Cl 214/522, collection container which extends longitudinally along the 214/8326, 214/38 R length of the truck and includes a rotatable garbage-collecting 3601) 1/ 2 device having an opening for receiving garbage at its lower [50] Field of Search 214/521, portion. A conveyor extends from the vehicle to define a ga 522, 302, 83.26, 507, 83.3, 38 R bage transfer-receiving container.

PATENTEDAUBIOIH?! 3598.262

INVENTOR. Johann Kraus BY WQWQ ATTORNEY GARBAGE COLLECTION VEHICLES The present invention relates to garbage-collection vehicles, and more specifically to a garbage-transport truck having a collection container which extends along the longitudinal axis of the truck.

in a known garbage truck a rotatable garbage-collection device is mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. An opening for receiving the garbage is provided adjacent to the rotating collection device. Garbage trucks of this type may be continually loaded with garbage. The collection container for the garbage rotates, so that its front end forms the rim of the rotating collection container. The garbage-collection container may also be stationary, whereby a separate rim rotates within the stationary garbage-collection container. The complete loading of the collection container with garbage may be supported by a distributed helix, which is mounted on the roof of the collection container and extends longitudinally along its length.

The conventional garbage trucks of this type, which are commonly filled from garbage cans are limited in the volume of garbage that they can hold and carry. This limited loading volume of the known garbage trucks necessitates considerable traveltime for the vehicle between the garbage dump, or incinerator, and the source of garbage. Conventional garbage trucks also require a special transfer station with an approach ramp, in order to'remove the garbage from above the truck, Such a transfer station not only requires a suitable space, but is also relatively expensive to build. Furthermore, a great deal of time is wasted by moving garbage trucks to and from these transfer stations.

it is therefore an object of to the present invention to provide an improved garbage-transport vehicle which is capable of receiving garbage from several conventional garbage-collection vehicles.

it is another object of to the present invention to provide a garbage-transport vehicle which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, and reliable in operation. it is a further object of the present invention to provide a garbage-transport vehicle which can be continuously loaded at an increased rate and at a higher loading volume than convention garbage trucks filled by garbage cans.

The garbage truck of the present invention overcomes the above-described disadvantages of the known vehicles of this general type by providing a garbage truck corresponding inside to a conventional garbage truck, with a conveyor which extends downwardly, in an inclined position, to receive garbage from several collection vehicles for the purpose of transferring the combined garbage to the dump or incinerator.

With the vehicle of the invention, it is possible to make transfers of garbage on the street. The new garbage-transfer vehicle of the invention may be attached to a regular garbage truck, so that the garbage may be transferred from the collection container to the garbage-transport vehicle on a side street. By transferring garbage on a side street, local traffic is not hampered on main thoroughfares. The transfer vehicle may be constructed sufficiently large, so that larger piles of garbage which are being transferred from the garbage-collection container do not drop onto the street during the transfer operation. Particularly suitable for this purpose are garbagecollection containers in which the garbage-collection container rotates continuously. As a result, garbage can be transferred continuously from the garbage-collection container into the garbage-transfer vehicle without tilting the garbagecollection container. Garbage may also be transferred into the transfer vehicle of the invention from oversized garbage cans or containers. During transit, the conveyor, together with the bottom of the garbage-receiving vehicle can be pivoted upwardly against the transfer vehicle. in the garbage vehicle, the garbage can also be compressed in the garbage-collecting container, so that its loading capacity may be fully used, even for garbage which is relatively light in weight. For collecting lightweight garbage, it is also advantageous to use rotating garbage-collection containers, since the rotation compresses the lightweight garbage to a certain extent, before a stronger pressure is exerted on the garbage by known auxiliary pressure means.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, which discloses one embodiment of the present invention. It is to be understood however that the drawing is designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawing, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views;

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partly in cross section, of a garbage-transport vehicle during the transfer operation of garbage from a garbage-collection container; and,

FIG. 2 is a schematic rear view of the garbage-transport vehicle of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a garbagecollecting transport vehicle having a rotating drum 4, is mounted on a chassis l carrying wheels 2. A cab housing 3 is provided at the front of the vehicle to accommodate the driver. The rotating drum 4 is supported by a front trunnion 5, and by rollers 6. Helical cams mounted near the rear end of the vehicle are provided in the inner walls of drum 4 as in conventional trucks of this type. A concave cone 7 defines the closing of the rear face of drum 4, and is held on a stationary frame 8. Drum 4 may be pivoted upwardly about an axis 9. The drum of the garbage-collection vehicle a can be pivoted upwardly. Concave cone 7 is provided with a charging opening 10 on its lower end which reaches into the end of drum 4, and comprises cams ll on its inner wall. The outer wall of concave cone 7, which is disposed on the inner side of the drum, is provided with a metal helical guide sheet 12 which extends from the apex of the drum 4, and beyond the charging opening 10 at the blunt end of the concave cone 7. The blunt end of the concave cone 7 is provided with earns 11 which are evenly spaced from each other.

The above-described truck is conventional and is known as a garbage-loading truck. For use of a transport truck, the drum 4 would be of greater length.

In accordance with the subject invention, a conveyor 13 is secured to the rear end of the vehicle and extends from the charging opening 10 and defines the bottom of a transfer catch basin having a rear wall 14, and two sidewalls 15. This catch basin is pivotably mounted on a horizontal axis 16 pivotably mounted on frame 8. The catch basin is pivotably mounted for movement upwardly and downwardly by means of the operation of a hydraulic cylinder 17 secured on the opposite sides of the vehicle (HO. 2). When the vehicle is in transit, the catch basin can be pivoted upwardly by the actuation of cylinder 17 as shown in the dotted lines.

During the transfer of garbage from the garbage-collection truck a, to the garbage transport container vehicle, the frame and the cover plate of the truck a are both pivoted upwardly for the purpose of emptying the truck. The garbage is emptied by continuously rotating the drum in that truck. The garbage falls into the transferring catch basin [3. l4, and 15 as indicated at b. The conveyor 13 which constitutes the bottom of the catch basin operates in the direction of the arrow P. Thus, the garbage b is moved onto the conveyor 13, and into drum 4 of the garbage-collecting truck.

The garbage-transport truck of the present invention thus provides for the transfer of garbage from a garbage-collection truck to a garbage-transport truck with greater efficieney and with a greater loading volume that has heretofore been possible.

While only a single embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A vehicle for receiving and transporting garbage from conventional garbage trucks comprising;

an elongated drum pivotably mounted longitudinally in the direction of travel of the vehicle,

a trunnion pivotably coupled on the axis at the front of said drum to permit rotation thereof,

a plurality of rollers pivotably supporting said drum to the body of said vehicle so that said drum can be rotated on its longitudinal axis on said vehicle,

a concave cone defining and enlarging the rear opening of said drum, and

a conveyor having opposed sidewalls, a rear wall, and a moving belt floor, said conveyor being pivotably coupled to the rear of said vehicle adjacent to the opening of said cone 2. The vehicle for receiving and transporting garbage as recited in claim 1 additionally comprising hydraulic-cylinder means coupled between the rear of said vehicle and said conveyor for elevating said conveyor when the vehicle is in transit and lowering said conveyor for receiving garbage from a conventional garbage truck.

a frame of rigid material having top, bottom nd side walls,

the front edges of said walls having rearwardly extending flanges to provide a louver receiving opening; 

1. A vehicle for receiving and transporting garbage from conventional garbage trucks comprising; an elongated drum pivotably mounted longitudinally in the direction of travel of the vehicle, a trunnion pivotably coupled on the axis at the front of said drum to permit rotation thereof, a plurality of rollers pivotably supporting said drum to the body of said vehicle so that said drum can be rotated on its longitudinal axis on said vehicle, a concave cone defining and enlarging the rear opening of said drum, and a conveyor having opposed sidewalls, a rear wall, and a moving belt floor, said conveyor being pivotably coupled to the rear of said vehicle adjacent to the opening of said cone.
 2. The vehicle for receiving and transporting garbage as recited in claim 1 additionally comprising hydraulic-cylinder means coupled between the rear of said vehicle and said conveyor for elevating said conveyor when the vehicle is in transit and lowering said conveyor for receiving garbage from a conventional garbage truck. 